Head of Brand and Communications

Career Guide

Leads brand strategy and organizational communications to shape reputation, drive awareness, and support growth. Oversees messaging, PR, content, and campaigns across channels, manages teams and budgets, and safeguards the brand during crises.

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Key Responsibilities

Define brand strategy, positioning, and messaging architecture
Lead PR, media relations, and crisis communications
Oversee integrated brand campaigns across digital, social, and offline
Establish brand governance and identity guidelines
Develop executive and internal communications programs
Measure brand health and campaign performance; report KPIs
Manage budgets, agencies, and cross-functional teams
Guide employer brand and thought leadership initiatives

Career Progression

Can Lead To

VP of Marketing

Chief Communications Officer (CCO)

Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)

Transition Opportunities

Brand Strategy Consultant

Product Marketing Director

Corporate Communications Director

Head of Customer Experience (CX)

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Crisis communications planning and responseAdvanced brand measurement and attributionIntegrated campaign orchestration across channelsBrand architecture and portfolio strategyExecutive counsel and board-level communications

Development SuggestionsLead or volunteer for a rebrand or crisis-simulation project to build applied experience, and complete a brand analytics course (plus Google Analytics) to strengthen measurement skills.

Market Intelligence Report

Head of Brand and Communications is part of the Communications category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

See the market intelligence report

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry Level$115,000 - $145,000

Mid Level$145,000 - $185,000

Senior Level$185,000 - $250,000

Growth Trend

stable — steady demand across industries; digital and PR needs persist

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

AmazonNikeSalesforce

Industry Sectors

TechnologyConsumer Goods (CPG)Financial ServicesHealthcare

Recommended Next Steps

Earn APR or AMA PCM–Brand Management and complete Google Analytics Certification to validate expertise.

Build a portfolio by leading a cross-channel campaign or rebrand (even pro bono for a nonprofit or startup) and document KPIs and outcomes.

Join PRSA/AMA, attend local events, and set up informational interviews with CMOs/CCOs to learn playbooks and secure stretch projects.